In developing Sun&Shade we were inspired by the Middle Eastern tradition of shadowing in architecture and public space
– Carlo Ratti

International design and innovation office Carlo Ratti Associati, in collaboration with Dubai’s Museum of the Future, have developed a digitally-operated reflecting canopy to provide shading, climate adaptation and green energy generation in cities.

The first working prototype, called ‘Sun&Shade,’ was unveiled this week in Dubai as part of the museum’s ‘Reimagining Climate Change’ exhibit.

The canopy is based on an array of mirrors that automatically track the sun. According to the designers, “much like a sunflower,” each mirror can move on a double axis and reflect the sun’s rays away from the ground – allowing the precise control of the desired level of shading and natural cooling underneath.

The reflected rays are then concentrated on a photovoltaic receiver, located a safe distance away, that generates electric power.

As the mirrors are able to tilt to different degrees, people can interact with sunlight in creative ways – from selecting the precise level of shading underneath, to composing dynamic drawings with light. Concentrated sun could also be used for more experiential and communal uses – such as roasting food on a sun-heated stone plate.

“In developing Sun&Shade we were inspired by the Middle Eastern tradition of shadowing in architecture and public space”, said Carlo Ratti, Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston and a founding partner of Carlo Ratti Associati. “Sun&Shade aims to bring this concept to the next level, allowing shadowing to be digitally controlled.”

Ratti explained that the technology could have “extraordinary” applications for increasing climate comfort, potentially allowing extremely warm cities such as Dubai to become inhabitable all year long, while significantly boosting clean energy production.

He added that his practice is dedicated to exploring how architecture can help prevent and adapt to climate change, at a time when the issue “is becoming increasingly pressing.”

A video showcasing how the canopy works can be viewed below:

“The canopy is half power infrastructure, half architecture for public space,” said project manager Antonio Atripaldi. “With its hybrid nature, it allows us more control over our surroundings.

“In the near future, we can imagine extending the canopy to cover streets or open squares in hot, arid climates. Conversely, in a cold place we could concentrate rays underneath the canopy to heat the environment.”

Parisian gym-goers could soon be powering scenic boat trips along the River Seine on a fitness vessel that harnesses energy from passengers’ workouts. The Paris Navigating Gym is the latest innovation from architects and researchers Carlo Ratti Associati. They have

International architecture and research office Carlo Ratti Associati have unveiled the design of a new master plan for the Currie Park waterfront of West Palm Beach, Florida, which features a floating public plaza partially submerged beneath the sea. A system

Visitors to a forthcoming food theme park in Italy will be able to grow their own food on-site in a futuristic pavilion designed by architecture and innovation firm Carlo Ratti Associati. The attraction, called the Area of the Future, will

International design and innovation office Carlo Ratti Associati, in collaboration with Dubai’s Museum of the Future, have developed a digitally-operated reflecting canopy to provide shading, climate adaptation and green energy generation in cities. The first working prototype, called ‘Sun&Shade,’ was unveiled this week in Dubai as part of the museum’s ‘Reimagining Climate Change’ exhibit. The canopy is based on an array of mirrors that automatically track the sun. According to